An alternative/independent media conference, held in Fresno yesterday,
attracted grassroots journalists from throughout the state. About 100
participants from low power FM radio stations, alternative newspapers,
newsletters serving the homeless, public access cable TV activists,
representatives from Indybay
Indymedia, and more networked and learned new skills at the first
conference of its kind in Central California. Participants came from Davis,
Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto, Merced, Fresno, Visalia, Bakersfield, and as far
South as Manhattan Beach in Southern California.

The conference, organized by the Community Alliance newspaper in Fresno,
began with an analysis of corporate media and the need for
alternative/independent journalism by Conn Hallinan. Hallinan is a writer and a
journalism professor at the University of California at Santa Cruz. Hallinan
told participants that "in 1983 Ben Bagdikian wrote a book called The Media
Monopoly which detailed how 50 companies controlled the industry. By the 4th
edition in 1992 the number had shrunk to 20. Today, it is 9."

The consolidation of media into fewer and fewer hands has resulted in large
corporations controlling the news. In a survey by the Pointer Institute,
Hallinan says "33% of the editors of newspapers said they would not run a
story that was harmful of their parent company." One has to wonder if the
other 67% were being entirely honest. Hallinan says "the largest media
chain in the country is Gannet." Sitting on their board of directors are
representatives from Merrill Lynch, Standard Oil, Ker McGee (Oil, gas, atomic
energy, and aerospace), 20th Century Fox, Lockeed Martin (the largest
arms manufacturer in the world), MGraw Hill, Phillips Petroleum, the Kellog
Company and others. Hallinan says "after you list those off, what do you
write about? You write about Brittany Spears."

Because of big businesses lock on the media, most journalists are unable to
tell many important stories. Corporate media journalists are unable to write
investigative reports that would put their parent company in a bad light, they
do not tell us the truth about why the US went to war in Iraq, and they are not
telling the story about groups and individuals working for peace, social and
economic justice. The distortion and bias of the corporate media has opened up
an opportunity for grassroots and community journalists. The
alternative/independent media conference provided a space for the emerging
movement of grassroots journalists to network and learn new skills.

In addition to the keynote address, Hallinan participated in several
workshops. The first workshop was a discussion about corporate media and how to
hold them accountable. Pam Whalen, who is a Community Alliance newspaper
editorial board member, led the discussion about one way to hold corporate media
accountable. Whalen said "all the radio stations in California are having
their licences renewed this year. Radio stations are supposed to operate in the
public interest, because the air waves are public space. If a radio station is
not operating in the public interest they could lose their licence and a
community group could take over and run that station." Conference
participants expressed an interest in following up on this information. The
group will invite the Media
Alliance in San Francisco to come to Fresno for a workshop on
this issue.

George
Elfie Ballis taught a popular workshop on photo journalism. Elfie
has been a movement photographer for many years, taking some of the best
pictures of Cesar Chavez and other members of the United Farm Workers union.
Elfie described how he becomes a part of the group he is taking pictures of.
"I’m invisible," he said describing his presence in a march or at
other events. Elfie described spending weeks with a Native American group before
taking any pictures. It was not until after he was accepted by the tribe that
the camera was brought out. Elfie says that passion is the most important
ingredient for making a movement photographer.

Participants also learned about Indymedia, the struggle for public
access TV on cable, and about low power, pirate, and free
speech radio. During the evaluation at the end of the conference,
a number of participants said that they wanted more hands on and in-depth
training in specific areas of grassroots journalism. The idea of an
alternative/independent media association gained some traction as participants
felt a need to link with others doing this important work.

There is no date for a second alternative/independent media conference in
Fresno. But, discussions are under way to hold workshops on specific topics -
such as advanced grassroots journalism, challenging radio and TV licenses, how
to build and operate a pirate radio station, and more classes on photo
journalism.

If you are interested in participating in future Central Valley
alternative/independent media workshops or conferences, send an email to AllianceEditor@comcast.net
and you will be contacted when future events are planned.